NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
Well the new season is now underway with some organisations starting on the Easter weekend and up here in Scotland it was a very pleasant day weather wise and going by the reports I have sent in everyone seems to have had a good race. However I was speaking to a lad from the south coast of England and he was informing me that quite a number of fanciers lost pigeons the same weekend. Kevin was down for some youngsters and brought his race birds for a training flight and he had one return minus a few feathers and the following day he had a hen return that had been badly hawked and it looks as if she will have to be put to sleep.
I’m starting to wind down the breeding of youngsters now as Kevin only wished for so many this year due to work commitments and it has been hard for me as in some instances I have only taken 2 youngsters from a pair of yearlings and to keep stock pigeons and only take one pair from them in my mind is not enough. Plus I have a few spare cocks that I have not even bred from and I think these will have to be moved on as it is a waste of time having pigeons that you do not breed from. I might also part with some of my Leo Van Rijn pigeons as I’m not into sprint pigeons. As many of you know, I have been trying to build up a family of Deweerdt pigeons to see if they will take us to the next level in the Scottish national races. This is my goal and I’m more than convinced this family will achieve this ambition for us -time will tell.
Results
Almond Valley Federation
Balerno news from Colin Bain who writes: ‘Hello Joe, time to get the results going again. Our club Balerno were at Stobs Camp on Saturday 20th April with 8 members sending 99 pigeons. Liberated in east south east wind at 10.00 our winner is Dougie Bald with a dark chequer cock chasing his hen to nest doing 1593 velocity and is from Willie Hay of Methil bloodlines and is from Willie’s stock birds that have bred lots of club and federation winners over the years. 2nd place is yours truly Colin Bain with a dark chequer Staf Van Reet cock on 1555. He was also looking at his hen and is from my old R Grayson crossed Bert Hession lines. In 3rd place is Colin Ross with a velocity of 1549 with a blue cock feeding a 5 day old young bird. He is a Staf Van Reet. That’s the start of a new season, hope you and Margaret are well and thanks for adding our result to your column. Good luck to you and Kevin for the new season, best wishes Colin’. Good to have Colin back on board as he sends in his result regularly.
Central Federation
Broxburn and Uphall news from Bernie Britton who writes: ‘Hi Joe, please find the result of the above club; from Otterburn we had 7 members sending 244 birds liberated at 9-30am into a south east wind the first three places are won by Gordon McKenzie. His winner is a yearling dark chequer cock doing 1794. He is a Spavin crossed Britton, a gift from Ally Forest of Ratho. Second bird is again a yearling dark chequer on 1791 and he is a cross between Bob Fenth and J Benvie. One yard behind in 3rd place is a yearling chequer hen. She is a Gaby Vandenabeele and is a sister to Gordon’s 2nd open young bird national winner. Thank you for including us in your weekly column and I look forward to contacting you each week throughout the season yours Bernie’. I thank Bernie for his report.
East of Scotland Federation
Firstly let me inform readers that this is the East of England Federation affiliated to the SHU - Joe Murphy.
News from Tom McEwen of Elphinstone on the above federation’s race from Ridsdale liberated at 08-40 am on 19th April into a south east wind. Topping the federation from this opening race of the 2014 season is Brian Lavery of Prestonpans club on 1786 with a 3 year old blue hen. Twelve yards behind in 2nd and 9th federation is John Bird of the same club. Tom and Scott McEwen of Elphinstone finish well up in 3rd & 4th places. Jim McNeil of Tranent comes in at 5th federation with Davidson & partners of Gladsmuir have a nice one in 6th place. Bobby Dickson finishes on 7th spot with a yearling and Mr & Mrs Burgess of Ormiston are there again in 8th spot with Tucker Watt of Macmerry completing the top ten with a yearling in 10th place.
Prestonpans HS
Taking first place is Brian Lavery with a 3 year old blue hen on 1786. She is a Bobby Dickson crossed Tom McLean bloodlines. 2nd place is John Bird with a 2 year old red cock on 1774. His breeding is Cooreman cock on loan from club mate Bobby Dickson crossed with an Yves van de Poel hen. Third place goes to Tom & Scott McEwen with a 3 year old chequer cock on 1760 his bloodlines are Mark Gilbert Deweerdt crossed Brian Cunningham bloodlines. Well Joe that’s us started the new season may I wish you and Kevin all the very best for the national races later in the year as I know these are your goals within the sport, yours Tom’. My thanks to Tom for the above information and his good wishes and I hope he and Scott have a good year.
New Lothian RPC
News from Andy Millar who writes: ‘We had our first race on April 19th from Ridsdale a distance of 66-78 miles, liberated in perfect sunshine in a light south east wind. Winning 1st New Lothian (64 members 1772 birds) also 1st Federation doing a velocity of 1916 John Dewar from Bonnyrigg club, who along with the Edinburgh Premier club and the newly formed Newtongrange club are new member clubs of Pentland Hill’s Federation this season. On behalf of the officials I would like to welcome them on board. The winning pigeon is a yearling cock that flew the full young bird programme last season. This year he was feeding 2 big youngsters and sitting 2/3 day eggs. His sire was bred by Joe Allan from Easthouses and the dam by John Downing from Bonnyrigg. Second is W Dewar of Bonnyrigg with W Hume of Gilmerton in 3rd place M Bennett of Gilmerton is 4th 5th, 10th & 11th so had a good race. Yours truly Andy Miller of Sighthill in 6th place J & T Young of Danderhall is 7th with Petrie & Crichton of Bonnyrigg 8th place and Willie Kinnear & son Barry from Danderhall are 9th.
Pentland Hills Federation
Result with 15 clubs sending 2757 birds, the winner is John Dewar of Bonnyrigg, 2nd is A Dewar of Bonnyrigg, 3rd is B Murray of Loanhead, 4th is W Hume of Gilmerton, 5th & 6th M Bennett of Gilmerton, 7th A Miller of Sighthill, 8th J & T Young of Danderhall, 9th Petrie & Crichton of Bonnyrigg and 10th W Kinnear & Son of Danderhall.’
Club Winners
Bonnyrigg 201birds: 1st J Dewar 1916 2nd A Dewar 1915 3rd Petrie & Crichton 1888
Loanhead 183birds: 1st Murray 1897 2nd Murray 1871 3rd Simpson 1855
Gilmerton 208birds: 1st W Hume 1896.6 2nd Bennett 1896.3 3rd Bennett 1895
Sighthill 233birds: 1st A Miller 1894 2nd R Bremner 1869 3rd A Miller 1851
Danderhall 330birds: 1st J & T Young 1890 2nd Kinnear & Son 1886 3rd A Young 1883
Woodburn 263birds: 1st W Pryde & Son 1867 2nd J Pryde 1852 3rd W Pryde & Son 1843
Edinburgh Premier 225birds: 1st Mr & Mrs Bennett 1869 2nd Mr & Mrs Bennett 1839 3rd Dick 1838
Castlebrae 146 birds 1st Sammels & Lunn 1867 2nd A Mitchell 1838 3rd McCormack & Fraser 1835
Edinburgh West 191birds; 1st Lamb 1864 2nd C Bennett 1853 3rd C Bennett 1849
Whitecraigs 158birds: 1st Mr & Mrs Simpson 1852 2nd Owenson Bros 1846 3rd Mr & Mrs Simpson 1802
Penicuik 147birds: 1st Watt 1841 2nd Watt 1827 3rd Lawrie 1800
Newtongrange 60birds: 1st G Power 1831 2nd Johnston 1781 3rd Watson & Daughter 1761
Traprain 325birds: 1st Bosworth 1831 2nd Newcombe 1820 3rd Mack 1802.
New Lothian 52
Peebles 35
This week’s photos
These were taken while on holiday. The first is of Margaret feeding a wild dove that actually ate the biscuit from her hand and the other is of yours truly watering the plants on the apartment balcony. The other is of wild pigeons nesting in the trees in the local park. There were squeakers running about when we were there; don’t think they are 500 milers though!!!
Joe Murphy watering the plants on holiday
Margaret feeding the wild dove
A pigeon nesting in the trees in the park
Joe’s Jokes
Here are 3 short jokes to put a smile on your face!
A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, ‘Honey pack your bags, I won the lottery!’ The husband said ‘Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?’ ‘Doesn’t matter’ she said, ‘just get out’.
One day a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie. ‘Tie me up’ she purred, ‘and you can do anything you what’. So he tied her up and went out to the pigeon loft.
Fifty-one years ago, Tam Brown, a fisherman from Peterhead was drafted into the Army. On his first day in basic training the Army issued him with a comb. That afternoon the Army barber sheared off all his hair. On his second day, the Army issued Tam with a toothbrush. That afternoon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth out. On the third day, the Army issued Tam with a ‘Jock Strap’. The Army have been looking Tam for the past 51 years.
Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or to my NEW EMAIL ADDRESS at;
© Compiled by Joe Murphy
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